Hong Kong television (RTKH) recently broadcasted a one-hour documentary about desertification and its human influence. The documentary is one out of a series of documentaries called 'Nature and Man in One' about nature and the various aspects of human influence on Nature.

The episode about desertification shows a.o. the scientific side of soil erosion and desertification, and displays a number of DESIRE study sites (Spain, Cape Verde and China) including interviews with DESIRE scientists such as Li Rui, Albert Sole Benet, Isaurinda Baptista and Jacques Tavares. Professor Coen Ritsema, former project leader, is also being interviewed.

The English version can be viewed below (click the arrow-button for full-screen view).

Arid Lands Restoration and Combat of Desertification COST Action ES1104 focuses on practical measures that can be used by practitioners, stakeholders and authorities to restore degraded drylands and manage their recovery. It will run from June 2012 to May 2016. This networking Action has its origins in the European Union but its remit is to galvanize action and innovation within and beyond EU borders. The action welcomes participation and collaboration in this endeavour to create a global âone stop shopâ for the dissemination of knowledge and solutions to people in arid lands, and also creates opportunities for education and innovation through Short-Term Scientific Missions and Training Schools.

Funding opportunity to participate in Training School 2

A training school on Semi-Arid Land Management for Crop Production and Restoration of Man-made Soils will be held at the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (IAMB) in Valenzano, Bari, Italy from 19-24 September 2013.

There is a widespread consensus that the pressing issues of Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought (DLDD) are not yet properly included and addressed in today's political and private sector agendas on a global, national and local level and that it is therefore of vital importance to raise awareness of the effects - costs and benefits - that decisions related to land management and ecosystems have.

The conference will provide guidance to governments and non-governmental actors alike, on why they should and how they can, together, reverse current DLDD trends, support affected countries and communities to improve their land management practices and increase resilience.

The conference will be held in Davos (CH) later than March 2012, but the exact date and venue are not available yet.